Suspect in past said he had troubles with alcohol; later got college degree, minor in criminal justice

Feb. 19, 2014

Craig Michael Wood

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Old court documents for a man accused of the abduction of a Springfield girl reveal relatively minor past criminal charges, admitted substance abuse issues and a struggle in college due to partying.

He eventually got a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a minor in criminal justice.

Police believe they’ve found the body of Springfield fourth-grader Hailey Owens in the home of Craig Michael Wood.

Wood is currently in Greene County Jail on suspicion of first-degree murder.

Three convictions in Wood’s past — the most recent more than a dozen years ago — show issues with apparent substance abuse as well as a history of blackouts.

His most recent conviction was in 2001 for illegal taking of wildlife. Court documents say Wood used an unplugged shotgun while turkey hunting near Ritter Elementary.

A 1990 conviction, for possession of marijuana, reveals that Wood described some relatives as “a bunch of boozers” and himself struggled with alcohol. He said his parents never touched illegal drugs and did not drink to excess, but he described a more distant relative as an alcoholic.

He told officials at a court-ordered drug education program that he had had experienced 40 to 50 blackouts by the time he was 22.

He also described a past conviction — not detailed in the drug program assessment included in court documents — for careless and imprudent driving. He told officials he had originally been charged with driving while intoxicated in that 1987 case, but pleaded the charge down.

“Craig reports worrying about his drinking,” the assessment report notes. It also says Wood told drug program officials “but not so much with the dope because I never had any trouble putting it down.”

He also told officials he had “ a reputation” in high school and was suspended once.

Wood reported he was a 22-year old junior at then-Southwest Missouri State University at the time of the drug charge — 1990. He said he was studying criminal justice and psychology before he “just quit going” because he partied too much.

According to the university, Wood attended from the summer of 1986 to the fall of 1992. He graduated in Dec. 18 of 1992 with the bachelor’s degree.